Editor's note: Every week, MLive will interview a beat writer who covers the Detroit Lions' opponent. The series runs the day before games.

ALLEN PARK -- The Chicago Bears solved the Detroit Lions in both games last year, and have won nine of the past 10 games overall in the series.

They seem to know a thing or two about beating Detroit, and made a couple changes this offseason that could equip them even better for that task. They spent a first-round pick on a right guard, Kyle Long, specifically to block Ndamukong Suh.

And now they feature a more quick-strike offense that could neutralize the Lions' defensive line.

Will it work?

MLive caught up with Bears beat writer Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune to get his perspective on the matchup.

MLive:Chicago is 3-0, one of just three unbeatens left in the NFC. In your estimation, are the Bears contenders or pretenders? And just how much should we make of the early first-place battle Sunday against Detroit?

Dan Wiederer: We should make a lot of this game. It's a division game between two good teams with playoff aspirations and realistic chances of winning the NFC North. The winner jumps out to 2-0 in the division early. And if the Bears were to win, they'd be the first team in the division to grab a road win in the NFC North. So yeah, it's a big game.

The Bears may not be as good as their 3-0 record. Or more exactly, they could easily have one or two losses on their resume now. But they don't. I don't think there's any question that they're a playoff contender so long as they can stay relatively healthy. They're still energized and opportunistic on defense. You don't get 11 takeaways and three defensive TDs by accident. And the offense is quickly evolving under Marc Trestman. The offensive line is better and Jay Cutler has more time and more weaponry to become a legitimate threat week after week.

MLive: Chicago perhaps is the only team that has found ways to consistently slow WR Calvin Johnson, including allowing 53.0 receiving yards per game last year while the rest of football allowed 132.7. Why have they been so good in this regard?

Wiederer: Charles Tillman relishes the matchup against Johnson and the Bears have always had a defense that can make adjustments to keep the Lions best playmaker contained. Tillman is big and can be physical and can disrupt the timing of the Lions' passing attack. It will be interesting to see how things shape up this week with Tillman battling knee and groin injuries and nowhere close to 100 percent. That's a scary thing for the Bears, especially with them realizing they have to keep a close eye on Reggie Bush as well.

MLive: One of the most intriguing matchups figures to be Lions DT Ndamukong Suh vs. Bears RG Kyle Long, who seems to have been brought in specifically to handle Suh. How has the rookie done this year, and how do you figure he'll fare against Suh?

Wiederer: He won't try to do it alone. And that's the biggest thing. Long will have help. The Bears will slide the line at times, they'll keep running backs in to aid in protection, they'll call plays to vary the spots where Cutler drops back and throws from. There's an understanding that Suh is an absolute force, so quick off the snap and powerful. Trestman has told Long to focus in on his assignments and technique for each play without getting caught up in the hype of the idea that he's head-to-head with Suh.

Long has been solid through three games for an offensive line that has only allowed three sacks and has been a major catalyst to the 3-0 start. He's a hyper kid. But he's also a hard worker and eager to get better, quickly earning the respect of the entire locker room. This will certainly be a measuring stick game against one of the league's most disruptive interior forces.

MLive: There's been a lot of talk around these parts about how Chicago's offense has featured more quick passes under the new coaching staff. Do you think that could neutralize Detroit's advantage along the defensive line?

Wiederer: That's certainly how they tried to neutralize the blitzing chaos that Pittsburgh threw at them last Sunday night. And it's a key to this offense under Trestman. Cutler has been solid at it so far, getting the ball out quick, keeping a D on its heels. But the Bears will take their shots down the field when the right coverages are there and the right plays are dialed up. They've been a very balanced offense to this point. And patient too.

I think that, more than anything, will be key for Cutler. Protecting the football and making smart decisions while still having the guts to take some shots. Right now, this offense has been versatile and it has used a lot of different playmakers (Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte, Martellus Bennett and Alshon Jeffery) to get off to a hot start.

MLive: No one's beaten the Bears yet. The single biggest key for Detroit to become the first is ...

Wiederer: Find a way to disrupt Cutler. Create a few game-changing turnovers. Fluster the offensive line. Make the Bears second-guess themselves for a moment or two. If the Lions can disrupt the rhythm of the Bears' offense, they'll be on their way to a home win. Of course, they'll also have to secure the ball against a Bears D that has those 11 takeaways already. But finding a way to fluster Cutler might be the biggest key.

Dan Wiederer's prediction: There's something about the Calvin Johnson-Reggie Bush combo that leads me to believe the Bears' D will be having match-up headaches throughout Sunday afternoon. Winning on the road in this division is never easy either. The first 4-0 start for Chicago since 2006 isn't in the cards this year. Lions 27, Bears 23